Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-05
PEOPLE WHO EAT CLAY.
FECUlIARITIES OF THE SANDHiLL-
ERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

Raoiin as an Article of Food, with
Yellow Mari for Dcssert- Diet
Wh."t Prevents Dyspepsia and Lung
Tronb,cs.
1t j. net Ernt,,lly known, but is true, that
| there exists not far from this city a race Of
white p,aplc called "Sandhillers," who are
veritable clay caters. This morning, in COM
pany with a young physician of this city,
your correspondent was enjoying jaunt into
pine groves which skirt tho eastern confines
| of Columbia, and we were proceeding toward
the sandhills when we were Gccosted by an
aged mendicant, who, thrusting an old
greasy piece of paper into my unwilling
hand, exclaimed piteously: "For Gods sake,
| read it, gentlemen My friend who was
preiudiccd against bcggars in general and
| "Sandhillers' in particular, was for sternly
| rebu'ling the Old man, when something pe-
culiarly touching in the applicants look ar
| rested that unchaiitablc purpose and inr-
PEELED him to heed the whisperings of his
| nobler nature and to relieve the distress Of
| the poor wretch |, too, could not restrain
| Christian impulse, and bestowing what
aims | could afford | glanced at the paper
which had been forced into my hand. This
was what it contained:
To ALL WHOM IT NAY CoNcuRH: This GER
| tfes that the bearer, who is both worthy and
! needy, is over one hundred years old Assist him,
all who can
| handed the centenarian his document
and he shamhled off, chuckling over his good
fortune and jingling the coins in his bony
| hand Here, then, was q genuine ccntcna-
rim, and we did not begrudge what we had
given him
AN UNEARTHLY vIsAGE
But what a strange looking being he was
How unearthly his visage, how yellow his
complexion, how shrunken his cheeks, what
pleading yet lusterless eyes, and withal, what
Il miserably emaciated and drawn-up boiyl
Such type of man is not to be met with
every day. had, it is true, encountered in
the streets of Columbia men and women not
unlike him, but never before had | gazed
| upon his identical counterpart
"Do you know that he is real clay-catcrg7
| asked my companion
"A WHAT" exclaimed l.
"Why, man that lives on clay-one whose
principal diet is 'kaolin,' or n sort nf smooth,
oritless, moist, white clay which abounds
| ,creaboutsn
But you don't think I'm so credulous as to
| tcleve that this man, who is over 100 years
Of age, has achieved this remarkable lonGev-
| ny by suhsisting on tasteless clayl7
| 1T is strange, but nevertheless true. have
| made a long study of the subject, and have
~'certained some curious facts concerning the
| lay eating habit. Now, TO begin with, |
have seen the 'sandhillers' of North ana
| South Carolina. some of them not ten miles
| from Columbia, while taking their meals,
and have observed them consume considera-
bic quantities of clay such as l described. In
deed, | have myself partaken of their frugal
| repast.'
"Well, what does it taste like, and how does
it affect onei' queried.
"It Is almost tasteleSs, but some of the cpl
rures profess to enjoy it because Of the deli
cate flavor it possesses. 1t is perfectly white
T; and wholly devoid of grit In fact, it is
nothing more nor less than the kaolin' of
which plates, cups and saucers are made
| There is nothing disagreeable about it, and it
may be with impunity taken into the stom-
ach. As an alimcnt it is not hurtful. 1t is
| contended that it is productive of longevity,
| and that it wards off several diseases. There
are well authenticated instances of surprising
| longevity among clay eaters, and it is well
understood by such Of the faculty as have
studied the subject that they are exempt from
| dyspepsia, never sIlter with indigestion, and
one Las mover been known to die of consump-
ton or to be troubled with lung complaints
ALLAYs HUNGER's PANGs.
"Of course, there is nothing sueculent or
nutritious in clay, but it nllays the pangs of
hunger. This it does by distending the walls
of the stomach 1t is not to be supposed that
clay cans take the place of bread and meat as
an article of food, but it does in measure
supply their place"
The doctor paused while expressed aston
ishacnt at what be told me Continuing, he
said
In my country practice, which OCCASION
ally carries me out into the sand hills tocca-
sionaily, | say, for although the 'Sandhill-
ers' are the sckliest looking, most catiaverous
and woebegone beings in the world, they are
the hcalthiest). have good opportunity to
study their peculiar life and habits They
can su5siSt on the most limited quantities Of
animal food; in fat, they get very little
meat-a poor quality Of bacon about twice a
week. They are lazy and thriftless. They
are not happy. Discomfort is their normal
state of feeling. But they are troubled with
very few wants, and these are supplied
| easily"
DO they eat only the white clay." inter
rupted.
As general thing. was the answer, but
sometimes they vary their menu and garnish
their board by the addition of yellowish
sort of mari, which is said to be scarce. and
which, it is claimed, possesses sweet taste
This serves them as a dessert. They. how.
ever, draw the line at red clay. This not
even their iron clad stomachs could digest
| asked a gawky old i5andhillcr' if he ever
ate tt" red clay, and this was his response:
No, suflee. l hev occasionally he'd a brick
in my hat, hut I'll be blamed if l banker
after turning my bowels into brickyard'n ~
During our jaunt we met several Sand
hillers' who verified much Of what the
young physician had said on tho subject Of
clay eating.--Chicago Herald.
The Reporter as an interviewer.